BELLEFONTE — The Bellefonte Red Raiders head into the 2026 season with plenty of momentum. After finishing the 2025 season with six wins and a District 6 championship, there is a lot to be excited about in Bellefonte this season. The Red Raiders only graduated nine seniors last year, so most of the core team returns, including starters at almost every skill position.
The offense will be led in part by brothers Alten and Ashten Howell, but Bellefonte enters the season with a quarterback competition between senior Quinn Park and sophomore Alten Howell. Howell had a breakout freshman season and will compete with Park for the starting job this summer. Ashten Howell returns after recording 687 receiving yards and nine touchdowns last season. Both Howell brothers are also standouts in the Red Raiders’ secondary, giving Bellefonte impact players on both sides of the ball.
Bentlee Hall is back as Bellefonte’s main option in the backfield, while junior Jibril Hasseh and freshman Ethan Speerstra will also see their share of carries. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Carson Crawford leads the linebacking corps after finishing with 131 total tackles in 2025. Crawford has also made the move to guard, along with senior Gavin Lucas, to help shore up the Red Raiders’ offensive line. Continuing on the defensive side of the ball, sophomore Parker Jodon, who earned a starting spot at cornerback last year, had a team-high eight pass breakups.
Other names to watch this year include junior OL/DL Levi Lowry, junior LB/HB Nash Weaver, and sophomore OL/DL Patrick Woomer. Freshmen looking to make an impact for the Raiders include OL/DL Ruger Auman and the previously mentioned Ethan Speerstra.
The strength of the 2026 Red Raiders will be their talent at the skill positions. However, the biggest question mark heading into the season will be the young and relatively inexperienced offensive and defensive lines. Bellefonte will know plenty about its team after the first month of the season. Three of its first four games are on the road, including a matchup on September 12th against state runner-up Bishop Guilfoyle. The Red Raiders’ only home game during their first four games is a September 4 clash with Forest Hills.
Besides the talent at the skill positions, Head Coach Tony Confer knows that the identity of this year’s team will be its physicality and ability to force teams to be uncomfortable. Confer said the identity is to be “the most physical football team on the field every Friday night.” Confer also emphasized, “Our kids never quit; they bring the fight each and every Friday night.”
After Bellefonte’s successful 2025 campaign, the Raiders are looking for similar success this year. “Obviously, our goal is to repeat as district champions, but what we measure as success is that we compete every Friday night, win the games we are supposed to win, and give ourselves an opportunity to win our toughest games,” Confer stated.
Bellefonte opens the season by traveling down I-99 to face Tyrone on Aug. 28.
